Go ahead one decisive agricultural campaign. The crops look amazing, though time is complicated very much the collection of the fine and every storm scares with its virulence. But the ship goes and everything indicates it we are facing a great harvest. And even with prices that are nothing extraordinary, the horizon is promising.
Good time then to take a break from the local situation. And put a little emphasis on the news that comes to us from outside and which perhaps deserves a more in-depth look. For example, the movement of The German farmers, who paraded in Berlin with their tractors and made all of Europe talk.
What is happening is no joke. We tend to look with sympathy at the proposals of farmers from any part of the world. In almost all countries, Rural producers are generally at a disadvantage compared to other economic and social actors.. But in this case it is appropriate to deepen the analysis.
Why are German farmers protesting? First of all, why They removed the diesel subsidy. Ah! They had also subsidized diesel. In addition to receiving compensation per family, per hectare, per cow or for whatever reason, they had subsidized diesel.
Moreover, They have the market wired, so any product coming from abroad has to pay heavy import duties. Except for the few countries with which they have signed agreements (Australia, New Zealand, Chile), the others have to deal with it prohibitive rates. In the case of Argentina, the famous Hilton quota for high-quality cuts of beef also pays for the “prelievos” that ultimately serve leaving European meat (significantly inferior) in a competitive position.
In this context, The elimination of any subsidies indirectly represents an advantage for competitive producers. We have been working for years to obtain a reduction in agricultural subsidies, and this is a small pill that must be implemented Welcome.
But it is also about diesel, a fossil fuel, which has also entered the era of decarbonisation. Subsidizing diesel consumption in agriculture is a contradiction, especially when agriculture is accused of being a major contributor to global warming. And it is, when the production system is the one prevalent in European countries.
In these pampas three decades ago we gave the plow a Christian burial. But we had already said, when we were at the Agritechnica in Hannover (also in Germany) in November, that a large part of the exhibition area was dedicated to the display of agricultural equipment. We classify them as Floor torture instruments. But in addition to destroying organic matter, it introduces air millions of tons of CO2 and other greenhouse gases, its use requires a high consumption of diesel. In addition to capital expenditure, why there They have one tractor for the plow, another for the driven tine harrow, another for the seederetc.
This is why the great allies of subsidized agriculture are the upstream industries, which provide them with all this Paraphernalia useless today for obtaining good harvests, with intelligence and technology.
So as much as we worry, someone is putting stop the absurdities of 20th century agriculture.
But be careful. The general provisions of the law will correspond to us. Things are done better here, but there are processes that global society repudiates, such as the loss of biodiversity. Or the question of animal welfare. These pressures will need to be taken into account and acted upon. It’s not that we won’t be able to sell. The fact is that our products, if they don’t adapt to market demands, will price penalties and not because of bureaucracy, but because of consumer decisions.
On this road, The key is to demonstrate and certify that things are done well here, from an economic, environmental and social point of view.. There are many who already postulate the creation and consolidation of a “National brand”. Argentina doesn’t have much of a reputation, but there are products that retain attributes valued by global society. It’s a question of strengthen the image for which we are recognized.
There are several Messis in the Argentine camp.
Source: Clarin
